Guarding His Secret Son, page 4
Garrett’s intense gaze drilled into hers. “I was hoping you could tell me.”
She shook her head, leaning weakly against the SUV. It didn’t make sense. Sure, her services to low-income mothers were well-known among people living in the area, especially within the reservation. She also worked closely with an OB in Green Bay for cases outside her area of expertise.
But outside of this area, she doubted anyone knew her. There was no rational explanation why a woman like Rebecca, who had money and access to top-notch OB specialists, had come all this way to see her.
Or why she’d been followed and shot to death along the way.
* * *
Garrett watched Liz’s reaction closely, believing she’d been thrown completely off-balance by seeing her name and contact information on the slip of paper he’d noticed halfway under the passenger seat of the caddy.
“I don’t understand,” she whispered.
Yeah, that was putting it mildly. He pocketed the slip of paper, then reached over to open her door. “Let’s head over to your clinic.”
She didn’t move. “Did you find anything else in the car?”
“I didn’t find what I’d expected.” He gestured for her to get in. “We’ll talk along the way.”
Moving slowly, she slid in beside Micah’s car seat. He closed the door, then climbed in behind the wheel. Shifting the car into gear, he pulled out onto the highway.
Micah began to squirm and cry. Liz did her best to soothe him. “My clinic isn’t far. Take the second road to the right.”
“Okay.” He watched her bend over the baby. “Are you going to wait until then to feed him?”
“Yes.” She met his gaze in the rearview mirror. “What did you find, Garrett?”
“What I didn’t find was blood or a bullet hole inside the vehicle. I assumed she’d been shot while sitting behind the wheel. Did you notice the flat tire?” When she nodded, he said, “Makes me wonder if the bad guys shot out the tire, then gave chase. But you said she was shot in the chest, so that part doesn’t make sense.”
“Yes, that’s correct—she was shot on the upper-left side of her chest.” She frowned. “There was no exit wound, either.”
He considered that for a moment. “Rebecca must have been far away when she was hit, then. A gunshot from close range would have likely gone all the way through.”
Liz closed her eyes for a moment. “That’s horrible. It’s all so awful.”
“Tell me about it,” he muttered, half under his breath. The entire situation was difficult to comprehend. Rebecca hadn’t gotten lost on her way to find him in Green Lake, like he’d assumed. No, Liz’s clinic had been her destination all along. She’d come way out here to seek Liz’s help in delivering her baby.
Their baby. Micah.
Why? Rebecca had money and access to exceptional obstetric care in Chicago. Why come all this way? And who had killed her? He felt certain the gunman had shot Rebecca to kill her and the baby.
If not for Liz’s skill, he would have succeeded.
He was still getting accustomed to the idea of having a son, but the idea that someone intended to kill the infant made his blood boil. He made a silent promise to never let that happen.
Taking the second right-hand turn as Liz had directed, he saw the clinic up ahead, roughly fifty yards away. He frowned, not liking how the building was rather isolated. He didn’t see any other houses or businesses nearby.
Did Liz work there alone? Or did she have help?
Scanning the area for threats, he pulled up next to the building. Then he took a moment to turn the vehicle around so they could get away quickly if needed.
Micah’s wails grew louder now, so he shut down the car and jumped out. He opened Liz’s door. “What can I do?”
“Take him for me. I’ll make a bottle.” She released the seat belt and handed the baby carrier to him. He tried to soothe the baby as Liz opened the clinic door and stepped inside.
The clinic was spacious, with a room full of supplies off to one side. The exam room was in complete disarray; there were towels tossed all over the floor, covering puddles of blood.
Rebecca’s blood. Her body was gone, but the scene of destruction had remained. He swallowed hard, grieving for the loss of his friend.
What happened, Rebecca? Why didn’t you call me?
There was nothing but silence for an answer.
Liz stared at the mess for a moment, then led the way through another door, where a very small and cramped living area was located.
Shaking himself out of his sorrow, he followed Liz, not surprised to see she’d sacrificed her living area in favor of making sure the clinic was functional. As she moved around the small kitchen, he unbuckled Micah from the carrier and gently cradled the crying baby in his arms.
As before, he was struck by how tiny he was. His small face was beet red and scrunched up in anger over being so hungry.
“Hang on, little man. Food is on the way.”
“Have a seat on the sofa.” Liz was shaking the bottle to dissolve the formula. “I’d like you to feed him.”
“Me?” He sat but stared up at her with wide eyes. “I don’t know how.”
“Time to learn, don’t you think?” She adjusted the baby in his arms, then handed him the bottle. “He’s your son. Practice makes perfect.”
Thankfully, Micah took the bottle without difficulty. He found it hard to tear his gaze away from his son’s peaceful expression—so different from the wailing just seconds earlier.
A wave of responsibility hit hard. This little baby was completely helpless, dependent on Garrett and Liz, at least for now, to provide for him.
He wanted to assure the little boy he wouldn’t fail in his role as his protector, but considering how close the gunman had gotten to them—twice in as many hours—the words caught in his throat.
As soon as Liz finished up here and Micah had eaten his fill, they’d head to a motel for what was left of the night. And after that?
He sighed heavily. Other than checking in with Wyatt and Abby, he had no clue.
Liz used her computer to presumably send an email to her patients and print out a new note to attach to her door. When those tasks were finished, she packed more items in the diaper bag and took a moment to change into fresh clothes: a soft forest green short-sleeved shirt and worn blue jeans.
“Micah fell asleep,” he whispered, setting the bottle aside.
“Put him up on your shoulder and rub his back in soothing circles. He may need to burp.”
“Ah, okay.” He carefully moved the baby to his shoulder, half-afraid he’d drop him. “We should hit the road.”
“We will, as soon as I change him.” She flashed a smile. “Or rather, you change him. It’s all part of learning how to take care of your son.”
“I’m sure it’s not that hard to change a diaper.” Messy, but not difficult.
He’d underestimated just how messy and difficult, but he managed to get the job done. Liz took the baby as he washed up at the sink.
Through the window, a flash of light in the distance caught his attention. He stared at the area for a long moment, and when the light didn’t reappear, he turned away, relieved to see Liz had buckled Micah in the carrier.
“How close is the next property?” He shouldered the diaper bag and reached for the car seat handle. “I saw a light outside, north of here.”
Her dark eyes widened. “There’s nothing close by. This was an abandoned property before I moved in. The building came with five acres of land.”
That’s what he was afraid of. “We need to go.” He shut off the kitchen light, plunging the room into darkness. “Follow me.”
Envisioning the clinic layout in his mind, Garrett carefully made his way through the building and toward the door, holding Micah’s carrier at a level high enough to avoid the exam table.
Was he overreacting to the flash of light? He didn’t think so. Maybe it was nothing more than a car coming down the highway, disappearing behind trees. Yet he couldn’t ignore his instincts screaming at him to get Micah and Liz out of there.
Pausing at the door, he opened it a crack, listening intently. After a full minute of silence, he stepped outside, moving softly toward the vehicle.
Liz kept close, taking just a moment to lock the door behind them before crossing to the car. He hesitated, knowing that the SUV dome light would come on the moment he opened the car door.
It was a situation that couldn’t be helped, although he wished he’d had the forethought to take the bulb out before going inside. Then again, he’d thought coming here would be safe since they’d left the gunman at his place.
Was anywhere safe?
“We need to move quickly,” he said in a low voice. “Ready?”
She nodded.
He opened the door to the back seat. Liz slid in and reached for Micah’s carrier. He handed it over, dropped the diaper bag on the floor and then closed the door. While she buckled Micah in, he opened the driver’s-side door.
A twig snapped. Someone was in the woods!
He slid into the seat and started the SUV, thankful he’d parked it for a quick getaway. He hit the gas, moving down the driveway to the road.
In the rearview mirror, he saw a dark shadow burst from the woods. Another gunman!
He pushed his foot down on the gas pedal as the man behind them fired several rounds from his weapon. Garrett wanted to know how in the world this guy had found them. When he heard the ping of bullet against metal, he knew they’d been hit.
“Garrett?” Liz’s voice trembled with fear.
“Hang on.” He continued driving, silently praying the gunman’s bullet hadn’t damaged anything major. They made it all the way to the road before he glanced at the gas gauge. The needle dropped right before his eyes.
He didn’t let up on the accelerator, praying they’d have enough fuel to get far enough away from the gunman.
But as the needle continued to fall and the engine slowed, he knew that wasn’t going to happen. He wrenched the wheel, pulling off to the side of the road seconds before the engine died completely.
They would have to escape the gunman on foot.
FOUR
“Why are we stopping?” Liz tried to keep calm, but her voice trembled with fear. She couldn’t believe the gunman had found them at her clinic!
Was he the same one who had been in Green Lake? Or a different one? Were there several gunmen after them? And if so, why were they all seemingly intent on killing an innocent baby?
“Gas tank has been hit.” Garrett pushed open his door. “Get Micah’s carrier unbuckled, then grab the diaper bag. Hurry.”
She quickly did as he asked, praying for strength. Garrett opened the back passenger door and lifted Micah’s carrier from the seat. Looping the strap of the diaper bag over her shoulder, she scrambled out of the vehicle to join him.
“Follow me.” He didn’t hesitate to break into a loping jog, heading toward a dense section of the woods. She managed to keep up but wasn’t sure how long she’d be able to run so fast as Garrett’s long legs ate up the yards. Good thing she’d changed into darker clothing.
Thankfully, he slowed his pace once they reached the shelter of the trees. But not by much. He moved swiftly, his head swiveling back and forth as he scanned their surroundings.
She had no doubt he expected the gunmen to show up at any moment. The mere idea of being stalked by these men made her shiver.
Liz did her best not to gasp for breath as she moved through the trees. Her Native American ancestors would know how to melt into the forest, but as much as she liked the rural surroundings of her clinic, she was no expert at hiding in the woods. Through the darkness, she could barely see the dark shape of Garrett’s body up ahead.
Guide us to safety, Lord!
As if reading her mind, Garrett glanced over his shoulder. Slowing his pace, he waited for her to catch up. The diaper bag was navy blue, with a pattern of white giraffes on the outside, and she feared it would be a beacon to anyone searching for them.
Garrett didn’t say anything but held her gaze for a moment as if asking if she was okay. She nodded, deciding not to voice her fears. Especially related to Micah. The baby was sleeping for now, but what would happen when he awoke? Newborns cried and that, too, would lead the bad guys to them.
Her foot got tangled in a fallen tree branch. She sucked in a breath and held on to the tree trunk for support. Garrett continued moving, so she forced herself to do the same, understanding the importance of remaining silent and hidden.
Yet how long could they survive in the woods? Mentally reviewing the contents of the diaper bag, she remembered placing two cans of premade formula inside, along with the container of powdered mix. The cans would buy them a little time before they’d need water to make another bottle.
Her own stomach growled with hunger; she hadn’t eaten much for dinner. Ignoring the sensation, she hoped the rumbles wouldn’t be loud enough to draw unwanted attention.
After what seemed like an hour but was likely much less, Garrett stopped at the base of a large oak. He set Micah’s carrier down, then gestured for her to sit, too.
“Rest.” His low whisper tickled her ear.
She nodded and dropped to the ground beside the baby. While it felt good to rest her muscles, her body remained tense with fear. How long before the gunmen found them?
Imagining the worst wasn’t helpful. Garrett was armed and would protect them, especially Micah. Thinking of the baby had her opening the diaper bag. She felt around inside until she found the can of formula.
Reassured, she held it up for Garrett to see. Thankfully, the can had a pop top, so she could easily open it.
“Do you need to feed him?” His voice was barely a whisper.
“Not yet,” she said. “Hopefully, he’ll sleep for a while.”
“We need to keep moving.”
She grimaced, tucking the can of formula into the bag. She rose, looping the strap over her shoulder. Garrett stood and lifted the baby carrier. Watching as the muscles in his arms bunched, she was grateful for his strength. She doubted she’d have been able to carry the baby carrier this far on her own.
Garrett stealthily moved through the woods. She understood silence was more important than speed, so she placed her feet in the same places he did. She might not be as quiet as he was, but the occasional snap of a twig could be attributed to wildlife moving through the area.
After another twenty minutes, Garrett stopped. She craned her neck to see what he’d found. A large tree branch was hanging down all the way to the ground, creating a small, sheltered area.
After placing Micah’s carrier on the ground, he turned to her. “You should stay here with Micah. I’d like to walk the area to see if I can pick up any sign of the gunman.”
Swallowing hard, she nodded. “Okay.”
“Will you be okay for a short while?” He searched her gaze.
“Of course.” She forced a reassuring smile. What choice did she have? She trusted Garrett’s instincts in deeming it important to scout the area. His expertise, not hers.
His smile shot her pulse into high gear. It was the wrong time to be aware of how handsome he was. Grateful for the darkness that hid her flushed cheeks, she lowered herself down on the ground, using the tree branches around her as shelter. Garrett lightly touched her shoulder before moving away.
She shivered, but not from the cold. What was wrong with her? Where had this weird attraction to Garrett come from? She hadn’t been the least bit interested in anything remotely resembling a relationship since her husband, Eric, had left her for another woman—one, he’d claimed, who was more kind and caring than she was.
She let out a soundless sigh. No sense in reminiscing about the past. Especially since she knew Garrett only wanted her to help with caring for the baby. She couldn’t turn her back on this father and newborn son.
Her feelings were irrelevant. The most important task looming before her was to keep Micah safe. And she would.
No matter what.
Feeling calmer, she listened intently to the sounds of the night. She was impressed at how quietly Garrett was able to move through the brush. Maybe it was his cop training, or he was an experienced hunter. Either way, she couldn’t hear him at all.
The hum of insects, chirping crickets and belching tree frogs were oddly reassuring. Resting her hand on the sleeping baby, she relaxed against the branches behind her.
For the moment, they were safe. And she couldn’t ask for more than that.
* * *
Garrett eased through the brush, every one of his senses on full alert. He didn’t hear or see anything unusual but wasn’t ready to let down his guard.
It was his fault they were in this mess. He shouldn’t have come to investigate Rebecca’s caddy without backup.
And worse, he’d brought Liz and Micah directly into the line of fire.
The fact that there were so many gunmen made him think they were hired killers. Nothing else made sense. No way had a single gunman take shots at them back at his place only to show up again here at Liz’s clinic. How many of them were out there? He had no idea. But he suspected they’d been hired by someone in the Woodward family.
A man or woman determined to eliminate Micah as the heir to the family fortune.
The task of keeping his son and Liz safe loomed before him. When he’d completed a twenty-yard circle around the spot where he’d left them, he returned to the downed tree branch. When he stepped out from behind a tree trunk, Liz startled badly, placing her hand over her heart.
“Sorry,” he murmured. “Didn’t mean to scare you.”
Liz nodded, then lifted a brow in a silent question.
“It’s clear.” He glanced at the sleeping baby. They couldn’t hide out in the woods forever, so he needed to come up with a plan to get them out of here, safely. He dropped down beside her so they could speak quietly. “How much longer do you think he’ll sleep?”
